High Arsenic Levels Found At Fort Reno Park in NW

Park Service spokesman Bill Line said in an interview that before agency officials were notified about the high arsenic levels, they "had no prior reason to suspect anything other than safe conditions existed in Fort Reno Park."

David Sternberg, an EPA spokesman, called the data on arsenic levels preliminary.

"We're going to be working with the D.C. government to conduct an in-depth and more accurate assessment of the arsenic levels, and when we have those results, we will share them with the community," Sternberg said. "And we'll consult with health experts about the sample results so that those experts can assess the risk to those people who've used the park and make recommendations."

Slonecker has been working with other scientists in a years-long effort to find and remove arsenic in the Spring Valley area of Northwest Washington. The contamination stems from World War I-era weapons research and munitions buried decades ago by the military.

In connection with that project, Slonecker said, he and another scientist took six soil samples last month at Fort Reno Park, about a mile east of Spring Valley.

He said he completed his analysis Tuesday and alerted D.C. environmental officials. He said the contamination is not related to the high arsenic levels in Spring Valley.

Staff writer Elissa Silverman contributed to this report.